Uptick in summer flounder keepers highlights latest salt spray report

All season the talk at the shore has been about plenty of summer flounder with so very few keepers. But, in the past week or so there has been a big uptick in the fish going into the box. In addition, some of these fish are of the doormat size.

A week ago Saturday, Sterling Harbor Marina in Wildwood staged its annual Duke of Fluke tournament and the results were impressive to say the least. The top two fish each weighed over 7-lbs. and they were joined by numerous flatties in the 5 to 6-lb. range. Some of these big fish were caught out in the ocean, while others came out of the back bays. Not in that contest, but there was an 8-lb. flounder weighed at a bait shop in Ventnor.

Contributing to this mid-summer rush of fish has to be some enormous schools of bait. When there is so much to eat one of the best techniques is to liveline. Net some peanut bunker, or whatever else is swimming around. A fish in distress will certainly attract any predators in the area.

Veteran anglers are saying it has been years since they have seen so many triggerfish. They are both in the back and outside on the artificial reefs. Again, some are biggies.

With all the flounder and trigger activity we cannot forget the kingfish which have been ruling supreme around here all season. Anglers targeting the kings also are hooking into occasional spike weakfish. And, adding to the menu are some nice schools of perch.

Don’t forget the blue claws. Crabbers have been filling their baskets with these gems. If you are new to crabbing do not put those you catch into a pail of water. Take along a bushel basket or cooler and place them in those. Covering the catch with a wet rag or towel will keep them from baking in the hot sun.

Moving to the inshore reefs and wrecks anglers are finding Spanish mackerel and bluefish while they are trolling around. An occasional chicken dolphin also might hit. Small spoons will work for any of these species.

The deep water continues serving up yellowfin and bluefin tuna and we are seeing an increase in the number of white marlin.

There is one very important advice, whether you will be fishing in the back bays and rivers or out in the canyons, take along a good insect repellent. The notorious greenhead flies are more than abundant, but they are not alone. There are strawberry flies, gnats and black flies. How a black fly can find you on a boat 60 or 70 miles offshore continues to confound me.

A note from the Coast Guard: From now through mid-August Coastie crews will be conducting buoy and day marker work between Toms River and Cape May. Some of this will involve diving operations. So, if you see Coast Guard boats proceed at the very minimum speed you can. Warnings are being broadcast on VHF radio channel 16.

Also with the Coast Guard, the Training Base in Cape May welcomed a new commanding officer this past Friday. Capt. Kathy Felger took the reins at the base, which is the only basic training facility for the Guard. She replaced Capt. Owen Gibbons who has retired. These change of command ceremonies are impressive and should you have the opportunity to attend one you should go. ACROSS THE BAY >> For whatever reason the upper portion of Delaware Bay remains slow, just as it has been all summer. A couple of slot stripers are reported but there is nothing about which to get excited.

Down the bay things are much better. There are some nice sized trout gathered around the legs of the light towers and there are flounder on the bay reefs, at Miah Maull and Crossledge.

But, the really interesting news is from the inshore ocean where some huge tiderunner trout, or weakies, are being caught. The old timers are talking about how fish like that were here a couple of decades ago.

The Cape Henlopen State Pier is surrounded by spot and there are abundant kingfish along the beaches. Bloodworms are your best bet.

There was a 10-lb. flounder caught last week at Reef Site 10 and the flatties have been joined by triggerfish. Trolling around the reef sites also should produce some small bluefish and Spanish macks. Moving into a bit deeper water you might find some football bluefin and really big bluefish.

In the deep the story remains yellowfin tuna and increasing numbers of white marlin.